Art of producing photographic prints.



M. S. LOVELL. ART OF PRODUCING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS.

APPLICATION FILED IULY15, I914.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS Cm. PHOTO LITHOW WASHINGTON. D. c.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- M. S. LOVELL.

ART OF PRODUCiNG PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 19M.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHGTO-LITHCL. WASHINGTON. D. C.

M. S. LOVELL.

ART OF PRODUCING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIE. 19H.

1,137,593. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- IIIHIIIM 74 a 6 I I II. A I" I V f h M x P73 I H 12 J W P 7 THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTO-L|THO.. WASHINGTON, D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON S. LOVELL, OF QSWEGO, NEW YORK.

ART OF PRODUCING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS.

Application filed July 15, 1914.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, MYRON S. LOVELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oswego, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to the Art of Producing Photographic Prints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in and relating to the art of producing photographic prints: and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of my improved method, and of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression of the mechanical features of my invention from among other forms, arrangements and constructions Within the spirit and scope thereof.

An object of the invention is to produce photographic prints of any desired degree of softness without the necessity of first softening the original negative by the common methods of retouching or reducing, in other words, to produce softened prints from negatives that remain in their original harsh conditions true to life.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple, inexpensive, time-saving method of producing soft prints from photographic negatives (particularly portraits) that. have not been changed from their origi nal harsh conditions, and whereby the degree of softness of each print produced from a negative, is determined by and is within the control of the operator, so that prints of different degrees of softness can be produced from a single negative.

A further object of the invention is to avoid the necessity of retouching negatives to reduce the harshness thereof, and to attain any desired degree of softness in prints made from such negatives by manipulation of the sensitized paper durmg lts time of exposure to the negative.

A further object of the invention is toprovide certain improvements in apparatus employed in the production of photographic prints from negatives.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2 7, 1915.

Serial No. 851,208.

.The invention consists in the method approximately as hereinafter set forth and in certain novel features, structures and combinations involved in apparatus for carrymg out such method.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating a form of apparatus that can be employed in carrying out the method of my invention ;Figure 1, is a perspective of apparatus involving my invention. Fig. 2, is a top plan thereof. Fig. 3, is a vertical sec tion. Fig. 4, is a detail perspective of the sensitized paper holder or magazine. Fig. 5, is a vertical section taken in a plane at right angles to the plane of the section Fig. 8. Figs. 7 and 6, are sections on an enlarged scale showing the sensitized paper when held in contact with the negative and when separated therefrom.

In the drawings, I show a light chamber or box 1, in which any suitable light producing lamp 2, is arranged. I show an electric light bulb for this purpose controlled by any suitable and conveniently located switch 3, arranged or operative from the exterior of the box. This box is of any suitable and desirable construction and can be supported in any suitable manner or by any desirable means although in the particular example illustrated, I show the box carried by supporting legs 4. This box is provided with a top opening normally closed by a depressed transparent panel 5, such as a sheet of comparatively strong or heavy clear or transparent glass at its edge portions resting on and supported by a depressed ledge or shoulder formed in the edge wall 6, of the box top 7,'surrounding said opening. This transparent panel is intended to support the negatives from which the prints are to be made; and in the drawings, I show a negative a, arranged flat on the top face of the central portion of said panel so that the printing light from the lamp 2, or from any other source will pass up through the panel and negative.

I provide suitable means for removably holding the negative down on the panel and against movement thereon and for leavmg the top surface of the negative exposed to receive the sensitized sheets and to permit the manipulation hereinafter set forth. For instance, for this purpose, 1 show a frame 8, of such dimensions as to fit snugly down in the opening in the box top 7, and engage the vertical walls (3, thereof against lateral play or movement within said top. This frame fits down on the transparent panel and engages the outer edge portions of the negative to hold the negative to and against movement on the panel, and is formed with a central opening over and exposing the portion of the negative from which the print is to be made, and this opening is surrounded by the inner vertical edge walls 9, of the frame. This frame is usually arranged about flush with the upper surface of the box top 7, and is removably fitted within the box top, and any suitable means are provided for normally and yieldingly holding the frame pressed down on the negative and toward the transparent panel to maintain the negative in the desired position, and whereby the frame can be readily released and removed to permit changing negatives. For instance, I show keepers 10, ixed to and on the box top, and swingable spring material levers or latches 11., arranged on opposite portions of the frame and adapted to project over the box top and swing and wedge under said keepers to lock the frame in position and yieldingly hold the same pressed downwardly whereby negatives differing in thickness can be received and held and whereby the frame can be readily removed or applied.

Suitable means are provided for maintaining a sensitized sheet in the frame opening and properly exposed to and above the negative held by said frame, and whereby said sheet can be held against said negative during part of the time of exposure and can be spaced or separated from said negative during the remaining fraction of the time of exposure and moved horizontally, laterally, or in all directions during said period when separated from the negative.

For instance, for this purpose, I can provide handoperated portable removable sensitized-sheet holder fitting and laterally movable in all directions within the open ing of the frame, and open at its under side to expose said sheet to the negative and to permit said sheet to be pressed flat against the negative and to maintain a position slightly spaced upwardly or separated from the negative. In the particular example illustrated, this holder consists of a box, frame or magazine open at the top and bottom and formed by a continuous, annular, or surrounding vertical rim or wall 12, at its opposite ends having inturned narrow horizontal sheet supporting ledges or flanges 13. This holder is of sufficient vertical depth to receive a pile of separate sensitized sheets 6, and intervening separate opaque sheets 0.

The sensitized sheets of the pile are similar in cimensions and are loosely su 'ierimposed in the holder in parallelism, and the opaque sheets are loosely arranged between the sensitized sheets to prevent the light rays reaching the upper sheets during the exposure of the bottom sensitized sheet. The dimensions of the sensitized sheets are approximately the same as the horizontal internal dimensions of the holder above the ledges 18, so that the pile of sheets will slide down in the holder to the open end thereof with the ends of the bottom sheet resting on the ledges 13, to uphold the pile of sheets in the holder and with the under surface of the bottom sheet exposed between said lodges and the side walls of the holder.

Light is excluded from the holder above the pile of sheets and the sheets are held pressed down in the holder by any suitable means, although in the example illustrated I show a follower or head l-l, arranged within the holde and freely movable vertically therein and resting on the pile of sheets and applicable to and removable from the holder through the open top thereof. The horizontal dimensions of this follower are approximately equal to the internal dimensions of the holder and said follower is provided with a top handle 15, by which the follower and the holder can be manipulated as hereinafter recited.

The flat bottom surface of the follower is preferably provided with a comparatively thick facing or layer 16, of felt or other suitable soft or cushioning material, and this layer preferably terminates short of the end edges of the follower so as not to extend over the ledges 13. In other words, the length of the layer 16 is preferably not greater than the distance between ledges 13, while the vertical depth or thickness of said layer is preferabl greater than the vertical thickness of said ledges 13.

The external shape of the lower part of the holder that extends into the opening in the negative-holding frame 8, corresponds to the internal shape or contour of said opening, but the horizontal external dimensions of said lower part of the holder are slightly less than the internal dimensions of said frame opening so that the holder can slide laterally in all directions on the top surface of the negative and within the limitations prescribed by the vertical wall 9, surrounding said frame opening. The opening is but slightly larger than the holder so that the lateral play or movement allowed is preferably limited to a very small fraction of an inch, and the vertical thickness of the sheet supporting ledges or flanges 13, is also but a very small fraction of an inch.

1 have discovered that prints of the desired degree of softness can be made from harsh negatives either retouched, partially 1 H retou'ched, or unretouched by maintaining the sensitized paper in contact with the negative during a fraction of the time of exposure, and slightly separated from the negative and under movement during the remainder of the period or time of exposure, and that the degree of softness of the print produced depends on what proportion of the time of exposure is devoted to the movement of the sensitized sheet while separated from the negative. The longer the period during exposure, that the sheet is held stationary and in contact with the negative and conse quently the shorter the period during which the sheet is under movement, the more nearly will the resulting print exactly reproduce the negative in the matter of harshness or sharpness and the less the degree or extent of softness. As the period of separation and movement is increased in length, and the pe riod of contact correspondingly decreased in length, during the time of exposure, the extent or degree of softness of the resulting prints is increased. The total time of exposure is not increased or diminished, but said time of exposure is differently proportioned between the period of contact and the period of separation and movement, according to the character of print desired in the matter of softness as compared with a print made from the same negative by the common method, that is, with the print and negative in contact and stationary during the full time of exposure. The full time of exposure under my method is approximate the same as the time of exposure under the common method, in anypartioular case and under similar conditions.

The results under my method are approximately the same with the same negative and the same time of exposure, whether the sensitized paper'is first held in contact With the negative for the desired fraction of the time of exposure and then separated therefrom and subjected to movement in a plane parallel with the negative for the remaining fraction of the time of exposure, or whether the sensitized paper is first held spaced from the negative and under movement and then brought into contact with the negative. The distance of separation of the negative and sensitized paper is but a very small fraction of an inch, and the relative movement between the negative and sheet during this time of separation might be repeatedly and rapidly toward and from each other but preferably is lateral or transverse with respect to the direction of movement of the light rays or in a plane parallel with the planes of the negative and sheets. The movements toward the'right and left or east and west, and forward and back, or north and south, are all approximately uniform and equal to cause the uniform blurring or slight dimming or softening in the print of all harsh or sharp lines of the negative whatever their angle or direction.

In some instances, softening of the print, may in a measure be produced by my method by rapidly repeated relative movements of the sheet and negative toward and from each other during the period corresponding to the herein described separation period or by lateral movement without separation,but the best results are attained by movement during separation which movement constitutes an important feature of my discovery broadly considered as a method.

In carrying out my method by the apparatus illustrated by the accompanying drawings, the negative holding frame is removed, and the ne ative is placed on the transparent panel. The frame is then placed on the negative and after adjustment of the negative to center the part thereof to be printed within the frame opening, the frame is clamped and secured to hold the negative. The sensitized paper holder or magazine is then loaded with any suitable number of sensitized sheets, each faced at the under side by separate opaque sheet, and the follower is then placed in the holder and on said pile of sheets. The bottom opaque sheet is then removed from the holder through the open bottom thereof, and the holder is placed in the frame and on the negative with the bottom sensitized sheet of the pile exposed to the negative. The switch is then thrown to cause illumination of the electric bulb in the light or printing box. When the holder is thus placed on the negative with the sensitized paper exposed thereto the bottom faces of the paper supporting ledges or flanges of the holder rest on the negative, (see Fig. 6) and the holder is first kept in motion sliding back and forth and to the right and left on the negative for say five seconds, then the holder is held stationary and the follower is pressed down to tightly press the exposed sensitized sheet to and on the negative (see Fig. 7 for a period of say ten seconds, thus making the time of exposure fifteen seconds. Then turn off the light and lift the holder from the frame and slip the exposed sheet from the open bottom of the holder and develop in the usual way, and a soft print will be the result.

If a strong rugged or sharp lined negative needs more softening, the printing time, the

time of exposure, can be proportioned say to give eight seconds to movement and seven seconds to contact. Of course, the time of exposure and the proportioning' thereof between the periods of contact and movement, will be varied according to the judgment of the operator and the condition of the negatives. The holder is moved back and forth or around on the negative within the confines of the negative holding frame, by hand, and the handle of the follower can be utilized for this purpose. ll hile the holder is thus under movement, downward pressure is not applied to the follower and hence the exposed sensit d sheet is held up and slightly or b ly sep rated from the surface of the neg tive by the ledges or flanges 13, of the holder and on which the ends of the sheet rest. The thi kness of these flanges or ledges approximately determines the distance th and negative are helr sepa rated. is natural stiffness of the sheets tends to keep them in an approximately horizontal position between said ledges or flanges hence to keep the exposed or bottom sheet elevated from the negative, thus when the holder placed on the negative and sul'licient (lOYllWirl'Ll pressure is not up plied on the ouposed sheet to bend the same doivn, said sheet will be separated from the negative, and it is du ing this period that the holder is moved hcl: and forth and to the right an d left, or vice vers in following the edge Wall of the opening of the frame. lf so desired, While the is thus separated from the n4. tive, the holder is moved up or down and to the right or left or vice in following the edge Wall of the opening of the frame to impart said approximately rotary movement to the exposed sheet. lVhen the period of separation of the sheet anc negative has expired, the operator stops the mov out of the holder and utilizes th hand of the follower to press the follower doivn with suliicicnt force to bend the sheets in the healer down the distance necessary to bring the exposed sheet into intimate contact with the negative. The soft or other pad layer on the follower is particularly designed to accomplish this result, or in other Words, the ends of the follower are reduced above the sheet supporting flanges of the holder so as to press down the bodies or intermediate portions of the sheets while their ends are upheld by said flanges. When the downward pressure on the follower ceases, the natural stiffness or resilie icy of the sheets vvill cause them to spring up again to their normal flat, straight or horizontal positions My method is not limited to moving the sensitized sheet toward and from the nega tive to attain separation and contact inasmuch as the movement is relative and the negative might be moved or both the negative and sheet might he moved to bring about separation and contact, and the same is true of the relative lateral movement of the sheet and negative during separation. lily invention in this respect is not limited to the lateral n'iovement of the sheet, as the negative m ght thus moved, or the negative and sheet t b th thus moved.

Any number or exposures can be quickly made from a negative, after the same has been positioned and clamped by the frame, by simply placing the holder in the opening of the frame and on the negative, and slipping the sheets from the open bottom of the holder. The frame automati cally centers the holder and sheet on the negative. These advantages accrue Whether the exposures are made according to my method or according to the common method, and with my apparatus prints can be made according to the common method as well as according to my method. This is of particular advantage as all negatives do not require softening of prints made therefrom.

The frame and holder of my invention can be made attachments for printing machines novv found in use or on the market, and for use for printing under the common method, Well as for use in carrying out my method, or complete printing apparatus can be particularly designed and constructed to embody my invention.

I do not Wish to limit all features of my RIHDZUZEUS to a sensitized sheet holder inanually controlled or movable as automatic or other actuating mechanism might be provided for this purpose. I find that it is desirable to interpose the opaque sheets between comparatively thin sensitized sheets but that such opaque sheets do not seem to be needed Where sensitized sheets of extra or double thickness are used.

My in'iproved method is not limited to any particular apparatus or construction for use in carrying the same into effect, and hence I do not Wish to limit myself to the disclosure hereof, and as to the apparatus of my invention it is obvious that various modifications, variations and departures might be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Desiring to protect my invention in the broadest manner legally possible, What I claim is 1. The method of producing softness in photographic prints which consists in cansing a relative movement (in a plane parallel with the planes thereof) of the negative and sensitized material. While they are separated, during exposure.

2. In photographic printing apparatus, a negative holding frame having an opening to expose the negative, in combination with a sensitized sheet holder adapted to said opening and of a reduced size with respect thereto for back and forth and right and loft movement therein.

3. In photographic printing apparatus, negative holding means having an opening exposing the negative, in combination with a sensitized sheet holder adapted to enter said opening and engage the negative, said holder being laterally movable on the negative within the confines of said opening ahd provided with means whereby the sensitized tized sheet in a plane parallelwith and with respect to the negative, and means whereby the sheet can be maintained from contact with the negative and can be brought into contact with the negative during the time of exposure.

1 lt 't' c. n p 10 o iapmc prm mg apparatus, a frame for holding a negative exposed to a li ht box said frame havm an o enm to b a 0 I a expose the negative, 1n combination wlth a portable hand operated sensitized sheet holder adapted to enter said opening and having an open bottom to expose said sensitized sheet to the negative, said holder being laterally slidable on said negative and within the confines of said opening.

6. In photographic printing apparatus, in combination, means to hold the negative to a light box and expose the same to the printing light therein and to the sensitized sheet, and a sensitized sheet holder having an open bottom through which the sheet is exposed, said holder being portable and removable with respect to said means and adapted to expose the sheet to said negative during the time of exposure and embodying means whereby the sheet can be permitted to separate from the negative and can be pressed into contact with the negative all during the time of exposure, said holder also-being laterally movable in all directions with respect to said means and the negative.

7. In photographic printing apparatus, in combination, frame adapted to hold a negative to a light box, said frame having a restricted opening to expose the negative, and a sensitized sheet holder having an open end through which the sheet is exposed to the'negative and embodying means whereby the sheet can be held separated from the negative and whereby the sheet can be pressed into contact with the negative, said holder adapted to enter said restricted opening and being laterally movable over the negative and within the confines of said opening.

8. In photographic printing apparatus, devices for holding a negative and a sensitized sheet parallel during exposure embodying means whereby said sheet and negative can be held in contact during a fraction of the time of exposure and whereby said sheet and negative can be allowed to sepa rate and maintained under approximately constant relative movement during another fraction of the time of exposure.

9. The method of producing softness in photographic prints which consists in causing approximately constantly repeated relative movement between the negative and sensitized material during a part of the time of exposure. i

10. In the method of producing softness in photographic prints, causing approximately constant back and forth movement between the sensitized material and the negative during a fraction of the time of exposure.

11. In the method of producing photographic prints from negatives, maintaining the sensitized material and the negative in position during a fraction of the time of 7 exposure to produce sharpness in the print,

and manipulating the negative and sensitized material by constantlv repeated rela tive movements during another fraction of the time of exposure to dim, blur or soften the lines of the print.

12. In the method of producing photographic prints of negatives, the step for softening the print which consists in causing constantly repeated rapid relative moveient between the negative and sensitized material during a portion of the time of exposure and while the negative and said material are maintained approximately parallel.

13. In photographic printing apparatus, a magazine holder for a pile of sensitized sheets, said holder having an open top, a movable follower in said top, said holder having open bottom through which the lower sensitized sheet is exposed to the negative, the open bottom of said holder provided with sheet supporting ledges at opposite ends thereof to support the exposed sheet only at its ends so that the body of said sheet can be pressed by said follower against the negative and so that the body of the sheet will spring away from the negative when relieved of the pressure of said follower, the sheet engaging face of said follower being formed to thus depress the body of the exposed sheet between said ledges.

14. In photographic printing apparatus, a sensitized sheet holder adapted to contain a pile of separate superimposed sensitized sheets, said holder having an open bottom through which the bottom sheets are successively exposed to the negative and from which said sheets are successively removable after exposure, said holder at its open bottom having ledges to support the sheets by edge portions thereof so that the sheets will normally spring from the negative and be separated "therefrom a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the ledges,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence or two witnesses.

MYRON S. LOVELL.

and a manually controlled follower in said holder having its end portions reduced above said ledges, said follower adapted to depress the pile of sheets to force the body of the exposed sheet between its edge por tions resting on said ledges into contact with the negative, substantially as described.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. GEEK, WELLINGTON E. Pl'r'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

